India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles were delivered to the Philippines on April 19, as part of a $375 million deal signed by the two countries in 2022. As part of its Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, the Philippines is buying the systems. This delivery greatly improves the defensive posture of the Philippine armed forces once it is operationalized. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar assured the government during a visit to the Philippines in March 2024 that his country is committed to upholding rules based international order and promoting security and peace in the Indo-Pacific area. Prior to that, from January 23 to February 11, 2023, 21 Philippines Navy personnel trained in system operations and maintenance in Nagpur.
Currently, India and the Philippines are considering dispatching an Indian defense attaché to track security developments and devise strategies to reinforce bilateral defense cooperation. The military attaché is expected to be stationed in Manila by the end of 2024.The Philippines also recently took the place of India in the US-led security alliance known as “SQUAD.”
Bataan province is being considered for port expansion by APSEZ (Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone), the biggest private port operator in India. The company plans to construct a port that is 25 meters deep and capable of handling Panamax vessels. Adani Group intends to make investments in the ports, airports, energy, and defense sectors of the Philippines in the interim.This shows how concerned India is about the current situation, even though it is aware of its limitations. Decision-makers still remember the INS Airavat incident vividly, despite the fact that it has been nearly ten years.
INS Airavat Incident: What Does It Portend? – Indian Defence Review
China’s claims in the West Philippine Sea and India’s incapacity to challenge China outside of its immediate neighborhood are real, despite the Indian authorities’ denials. Specifically, India has stated that the Indian Ocean, encompassing the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, is its top priority. Beyond that, India has no direct concern.
Three Indian ships, the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, the fleet tanker INS Shakti, and the anti-submarine warfare stealth corvette INS Kiltan, were stationed in the region recently. In December 2023, INS Kadmatt made a visit to Thailand and Philippines as part of a long-range operational deployment.However,India’s conservative stance on the West Philippine Sea Sea has somewhat irritated the US and there is mounting frustration with QUAD’s usefulness.
The Philippines is a treaty ally of the US, unlike India. More significantly, though, India’s strong ties to Russia, its longtime security ally, and its outspoken defiance of Western-led sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine crisis have not helped.Any significant confrontation between China and the Philippines would undoubtedly be extremely hazardous. It seems unlikely that the ongoing Coast Guard skirmishes in the West Philippine Sea will spark World War III. However, there is a possibility that ships could capsize and people might perish. Any such incident would set off a major crisis that would necessitate prompt de-escalation actions from China and the United States. India remains on guard.